Drug Addiction

Substance abuse during the teenage years is especially dangerous. Not only are there immediate dangers, risk of injury and poor decisions, but there are ongoing problems. Many individuals who begin using drugs or alcohol during adolescence continue using the substances into adulthood. This results in the body being exposed to the substance longer, with an increased risk of certain cancers and liver disease with alcohol use and various problems with drug exposure. Full Story

According to a recent article in the NY Times, Congressional investigators explain that thousands of Medicare recipients are abusing prescription drugs by shopping around for new doctors while obtaining prescriptions from each of them, resulting in dangerously large amounts of painkillers. Full Story

The face of drug addiction is changing. While the general perception of a drug addict is a young person in their teens or twenties struggling to maintain employment and having the appearance of someone down on their luck, that stereotype is being offset by a new group of people struggling with drug abuse: the “respectable addict.” Full Story

Cocaine addiction has been a rock against which many a wave has broken without creating any movement or diminishment. Researchers and those who treat cocaine addicts directly are forever in search of new ideas and methods which might prove successful. Full Story

In many states, patients come in to a pain clinic seeking medical help and walk out with a prescription for a painkiller – even if they are already addicted to a painkiller or similar drug. Some say patients are actually treating pain clinics as places to feed their addictions. Full Story

Pharmaceutical pain relievers used as prescribed medications for the treatment of severe and chronic pain have high potential for abuse and dependence and have been of significant concern for some time. Research data released this year confirms that the nonmedical use of pain relievers is a substantial public health concern. According to information collected by the Office of Applied Studies at SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), the use of pain relievers in the U.S. has steadily increased over recent years causing them to become a significant class of substances among those seeking treatment for substance disorders. SAMSHA’s TEDS system (Treatment Episode Data Set) which tracks substance abuse treatment admissions in the United States, found that the nonmedical use of pain relievers increased significantly in the years between 1998 and 2008 among those seeking substance treatment. This increase indicates a dramatic need for prevention and treatment efforts that target these substances.

Is it possible to amass 101 convictions by the age of 19? Drug addict Michael Craig is one who not only owns this staggering record, but according to a report in the Burnley Express, jail time does little to thwart his criminal activities.

While medical marijuana used to grab a significant amount of attention due to its popularity, the most common now is the opioid painkiller. A recent post in the LA Times captures the problems associated with the use of this drug, including its addictive properties.

Simon Hattenstone of the Guardian says that compared to four years ago, British pop singer George Michael looks better, bigger, and stronger. “I was probably more stoned in those days,” the singer told Hattenstone during a recent interview. “I was existing on a balance of Starbucks and weed.” In the bad old days, Michael estimates he was smoking around 25 joints a day, and was worried he’d permanently damage his voice.

Though it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about reasons for making trips to the emergency room, medical issues that are related to drug and alcohol use are a regular occurrence. In fact, these are problems that emergency room doctors are finding themselves dealing with on an increasingly regular basis. Full Story

Intervention Topics

The Addiction Primer: Everything You Need to Know to Get Help for a Loved One

A very inexpensive yet indispensable guide for anyone struggling with a loved one's addiction. Chapters on intervention, what to expect from rehab, and information on how addiction impacts the family.

Types of Addiction Intervention

Johnson ModelThe Johnson Model of Intervention is a confrontational approach to drug and alcohol intervention that was introduced in the 1960s. An interventionist leads the family and close friends in this planned confrontation, which is unknown to the addicted individual beforehand.

Invitational ModelTo proceed with the Invitational Model of Intervention, a concerned family member must contact an interventionist about the person with a substance abuse problems. Several family members meet or talk with the interventionist, and plans for the workshop are made. One family member is coached on how to invite the addicted individual to the workshop, although it will take place regardless of whether the individual decides to attend.

Field Model It is an overlay intervention model that includes Johnson model and Invitational Model. It specifically trains to techniques you can use in the field, during the actual intervention, should problems arise, and is best suited for crisis interventions where there is a risk of violence or other critical issues that could sabotage the success of the intervention.

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Addiction Intervention

If you have a loved one who is struggling with alcohol or drug addiction but he or she is resistant to treatment, sometimes the best chance for hope is to have a professional alcohol intervention specialist or drug interventionist work with you and your family to encourage them to get the help they need. Addiction-Intervention is an informal guide to intervention to help you with this process, whether you need a drug intervention specialist, alcohol interventionist, or an intervention specialist for a process addiction such as gambling.